Apron control means for drawing apparatus



March 31 1964 w. H. TABOR ETAL APRON CONTROL MEANS FOR DRAWING APPARATUS2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 51, 1959 IN V EN TORS H. TABOR AVALLARO"'fiI/LZMIM WARNER ALBERT C ATTORN EYS March 31, 1964 w. H. TABOR ETAL3,126,585

APRON CONTROL MEANS FOR DRAWING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 51, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTORS /7 WARNER H. T R

\ I BYALBERT CAVA ARO ATTO R N EYS United States Patent Ofifice H3,126,585 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 3,126,585 APRON CONTROL MEANS FORDRAWING APPARATUS Warner H. Tabor and Albert Cavallaro, Bristol, R.I.,as-

signors, by mesne assignments, to Dixie Machine &

Tool Company, Greensboro, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina FiledDec. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 863,304 6 Claims. (Ql. 19-244) This inventionrelates to a spinning, roving or like apparatus and particularly to theapron which is back of the front set of upper and lower rolls fordrawing the strand.

In the operation of a spinning, roving or like apparatus, it is usual toprovide a front set of rolls comprising upper and lower rolls and rollsback of this front set comprising upper and lower rolls with an apronabout either or both of the upper and lower rolls which aprons travelabout bars between the front set of rolls and the rolls back of thefront set so as to engage and control the strand as it moves toward thefront set of rolls. The bar about which the lower apron travels has acurved forward end and the apron in traveling over this curved surfaceusually sags forwardly toward the lower front roll, and the bulge orbelly of this apron is such that its surface just clears the surface ofthe front lower roll and is spaced substantially from the bar as ittravels downwardly. Due to the curvature of the front rolls, a bar aboutwhich an apron travels usually leaves a substantial space between theapron and the nip of the front set of rolls so that the strand as itmoves forwardly is out of contact with the apron and thus the aproncannot exercise any control of the fibers in the strand for asubstantial distance. This lack of control permits the ends of thefibers in the uncontrolled space to extend outwardly from the body ofthe strand to the detriment of the strength of the strand.

Gne of the objects of this invention is to reduce the space between theapron and the nip of the front set of rolls so as to minimize theuncontrolled extent of the strand during the drafting operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a separable means whichmay be clipped onto the bars about which the apron extends in existingmechanisms so that existing apparatus of this type may be easilyconverted to the form of this invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tensioningmeans for the apron by which an apron may be maintained in a tightrelation and thus closer to the nip of the front rolls and still clearthe lower front roll than if an apron had some sag in it.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tensioning means for aplurality of aprons so that the tension may be adjusted for a number ofaprons at one time.

Another object of the invention is to provide more uniform strands froman apparatus where there are a plurality of ends of strands operating byproviding a more uniform set of conditions in the apparatus by reason ofsimultaneously tensioning or adjustment of the tension of a number ofaprons which operate upon a number of ends at one time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stronger strand and yetone of the same weight.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as will be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: FlGURE 1 is a sectional view of afragmental portion of a drawing frame showing one of a plurality of rollstands with the mechanism of the apparatus equipped with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating a plurality oftension rolls and a common tension bar for adjusting the tension onthese rolls, the bar being mounted between a pair of roll stands;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the tensioning bar;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the clip which is mounted on the guidebar over which the apron extends;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a spring arm which is utilized inconnection with the bar of FIGURE 3 for applying tension to the tensionrollers of the apron;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of the relationship of thefront set of rolls and the apron which travels about the set of rollsback of the front set of rolls; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of guide bar andits relation to the front rolls.

In proceeding with this invention, we have provided a modified form ofbar about which the lower apron travels or have provided clips fromsheet metal which may be snapped onto existing bars over which the aprontravels at each of the locations of the apron lengthwise of theapparatus so that the apron will travel closer to the nip between thetwo front rolls of the apparatus. In connection with this change ofshape of the bar or supplemental clip on the bar, it is necessary toprovide tension on the apron in order that the apron will clear thelower front roll of the apparatus. We also have provided a tension barmounted between two roll stands upon which there is mounted a pair ofarms for each apron tension roll for engagement with the trunnions orshaft upon which such roll rotates. These arms being upon a common barmay be all adjusted simultaneously for the adjusting of a plurality oftension rolls at one time and applying the same tension on each of theplurality of rolls for the more uniform production of yarn.

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates the fragmental portion ofone roll stand as shown in FIGURE 1 which has a supporting leg which isto be mounted upon a roller beam (not shown). The body portion isdesignated 12 in which there is provided a plurality of bearings for aplurality of bottom rolls while at the rear portion of the stand an arm13 projects downwardly and serves as a mounting for a tension bar 14 aswill be more fully hereinafter described.

The roll stands rotatably support a front set of rolls 15 comprising atop roll 16 and a lower or bottom roll 17. Also there is provided a setof rolls 1?: comprising a top roll 1) and a lower or bottom roll 20,while between these two sets of rolls there is an intermediate set 21comprising a top roll 22 and a lower or bottom roll 23. It will beunderstood that the bottom rolls 17, 2t) and 23 extend in sectionshaving bearings in a number of roll stands and that the roll standsprovide rotatable bearings for these bottom rolls, whereas the top rollsl9 and 22 occur in pairs and are guided by bearings carried by anoverarm 25. Saddles 26 and 27 serve to apply weight through the arm 28to the top rolls. This overarm also carries a top bar 29 about which thetop apron 3b is guided in its travel about the roll 22.

A bar 31 is located between the lower rolls 17 and 23 and supported by abody portion 12 of the roll stand. A lower apron 32 embraces the lowerroll 23, the bar 31 and also a tension roll 33 which is hung by theapron below the roll 23 and bar 31. In order to project the path oftravel of this apron closer to the nip between the front set of rolls l6and 17, we have provided a member designated generally 35 and shown inperspective in FIG- URE 4 out of spring sheet stock and have shaped thismember so that it will fit about the bar 31 along its upper surface 36,its back edge 37 and its forward tapered edge 38 but have projected anose portion 39 of this memher so as to be an extension of the portion4% which extends along the surface 36 toward the nip between the frontset of rolls so that this nose portion 39 is closer to the nip than anypart of the bar 31. Also this nose portion is raised slightly from thestraight line of the surface 36 so as to follow the curvature of theportion 4-1 of the upper apron 30. Thus as a strand passes between theaprons and 32, there will be a control of the fibers to a point muchcloser to the nip of the front set of rolls than has heretofore existed.The upward curvature of the nose 39 also serves to increase the pressureof the aprons upon the strand at the nip adjacent this upward incline orbump in the path of travel of the strand which is desirable to press anystraggling fibers back into the body of the strand. Just below the noseportion 39, the member has a rearwardly curved portion 42 so as toprovide some clearance for the apron 32 after it leaves the nose portion39. It will also be apparent that the top bar 29 is positioned relativeto the nose 39 so that the upper apron is depressed into the upwardlyextending arc of the lower apron 32.

Inasmuch as the nose portion 39 is close to the nip and presents thebelt 32 close to the surface of the lower roll 17, it is desirable thatthere be a sufi'icient tension applied to the apron so as to prevent theapron from sagging and touching the lower roll 17, and a somewhatgreater tension will be applied to the apron than has heretofore beenapplied. In the enlarged diagrammatic view shown in FIGURE 6 in dottedlines, there are illustrated the positions that the aprons haveheretofore a sumed in their relation to each other and the lower frontroll by the lower apron belling out as it moves about the curvature 55of the bar which heretofore existed. This apron is curved in this waybecause of slight tension on the apron. There is also shown in thisfigure the nose 39 of the clip which projects the guide for the apron 32closer to the nip between the front rolls 16 and 17 and in order to drawin the apron so that it will not touch the surface of the roll 17, wehave increased the tension on the apron from that heretofore existing soas to bring the apron down in the position substantially as shown in thefull lines in FIGURE 6, thus clearing the adjacent surface of the roll17 in substantially the same amount as previously but drawing this apronin a tighter relation and one which follows more closely the shape ofthe bar. It will of course be apparent that this guide for the apron,instead of being a clip 35 secured on the bar 31 which is convenient foradapting frames already in existence to the new form, may be a solid bar56 (FIG. 7) of a shape to incorporate the forwardly protruding nose suchas shown at 39' in the bar 56 of FIGURE 7. The apron is tensionedthrough a tension roll 33 about which it passes this roll beingrevolvable upon a shaft 43 which projects outwardly beyond the roll 33and is moved downwardly by spring arms 44 which have bearings 45engaging the shaft 43 on either side of the roll to urge the shaftdownwardly and tension the apron.

The spring arm 44 is bent into a rectangular shape at 46 so as to snuglyembrace the tension rod 14. These arms may he slid along the arm 14 toan appropriate position depending upon the gauge of the machine. Thisbar 14 is provided at one end with a bore 47 into which the reduced end48 of a rod 49 is positioned. This rod 49 as shown in FIGURE 2 ismounted in one of the arms 13 of the roll stand and is secured in one ofthe arms 13 of the roll stand by a set screw 50 (see FIG. 1) and servesto rotatably support the bar 14. The bar 14 is square in cross sectionand is reduced to a round section at 51 and threaded, and this threadedend is mounted in another roll stand arm 13 as shown in FIGURE 2 byreason of the threaded end entering a bore 52 and being held againstmovement out of any position to which it has been adjusted by a threadedcollar 53 which is screwed from its position on the threads 51 intoengagement with the arm 13 of the roll stand so as to hold the bar inany adjusted position.

The bar may be adjusted to tension a plurality of the tension rollsthrough spring arms 44 by engaging the square rod and rotating it, andthen when the desired tension is applied to each of the aprons, thecollar 53 may be screwed up against the roll stand arm 13 to hold it inthis adjusted position.

It is found by use of this apparatus that the yarn which is formed hasan increased breaking factor which may be illustrated by a set of testswhich have been run and which are demonstrated as follows:

Regular Double Invention Apron Roth Spinning Test 1:

Yarn Size 119. 4 119. 6 Skein Break... 22.0 17. 8 Break Faeton. 2, 6262, 128 Nuway Nuway 44, 8 45.0 50.4 45.0 2, 257 2, 025 A & E A & E

45.0 44. 4 581 2 47. 7 2, 619 2, A & E A & E

43. 8 43.0 56. 9 49.1 2, 490 2, 111 A & E A & E

TEST MADE AT MILL BY MILL PERSONNEL Saeo- Regular Lowell 2 Double Magne-Test 5 Invention Apron draft Roth Double Apron Roth Yarn Size 21. 7 21.2 20. 7 Skein Break" 111. 8 93. 6 106.5 Break Factor 2,425 2, 000 2, 340Uster 3 17. 6 19.2 18. 4

BREAK FACTOR COMPARISON Invention 23% better Invention 12% betterInvention 27% better Invention 13% better Invention 17% better 1 TestNo, 4 used some roving as Test No, 3 except that the spindle running theInvention" roving was used for the Regular roving and vice versa.

1 Saeo-Lowells newest double apron Roth system. This installation hadall new parts from roller beam up. Invention and Regular" had old parts,the bottom steel rolls in particular being over 10 years old.

3 Measurer oi yarn evenness, Figures shown are for eoeilicient ofvariation, The lower the figure, the better the yarn,

In the above tests the Yarn Size is expressed as the count in the oldcotton system wherein there are 840 yards in one skein and the figuregiven is the number of skeins in a pound. The Skein Break is the totalpounds needed to break 840 yards in a skein of the ASTM standard. TheBreak Factor is the product of the Yarn Size and the Skein Break, thislatter being the important figure in the test.

We claim:

1. In spinning, roving and like machines, a first set of upper and lowerfront rolls, a second set of upper and lower rolls back of the frontrolls, an upper apron embracing the upper roll and a lower apronembracing the lower roll of the second set, an upper bar between theupper rolls of said sets about which said upper apron moves in a curvedpath, a fixed lower bar between the lower rolls of said sets embraced bysaid lower apron, said lower bar being provided with a nose projectingtoward the lower roll of the first set and also projected upwardly witha rounded extremity over which said apron extends, said nose being soshaped as to project the path of travel of said apron close to saidlower front roll and arcuately upwardly about the curved path of theupper apron at its forward extremity and means to tension said lowerapron, said upper bar being positioned to depress the upper apron intothe upwardly extending arc of the lower apron.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lower bar has a portionextending substantially in a line which is a common tangent to the upperportions of both of the lower rolls.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lower bar has a portionextending substantially in a line which is a common tangent to the upperportions of both of the lower rolls with its end nearest the front setraised above said line of tangency.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the nose on said lower bar is aseparate member carried by said bar.

6 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said separate member is ofspring sheet stock clipped onto said bar. 6. The combination of claim 4wherein said separate member has a portion extending substantially in aline which is a common tangent to the upper portions or" both of thelower rolls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,141,219 Martin et al Dec. 27, 1938 2,252,011 Liebaut Aug. 12, 19412,582,213 Walsh Jan. 8, 1952 2,633,607 Newbegin et al Apr. 7, 19532,944,299 Hampl July 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 891,472 France Dec. 11,1943 405,713 Italy Sept. 3, 1943

1. IN SPINNING, ROVING AND LIKE MACHINES, A FIRST SET OF UPPER AND LOWERFRONT ROLLS, A SECOND SET OF UPPER AND LOWER ROLLS BACK OF THE FRONTROLLS, AN UPPER APRON EMBRACING THE UPPER ROLL AND A LOWER APRONEMBRACING THE LOWER ROLL OF THE SECOND SET, AN UPPER BAR BETWEEN THEUPPER ROLLS OF SAID SETS ABOUT WHICH SAID UPPER APRON MOVES IN A CURVEDPATH, A FIXED LOWER BAR BETWEEN THE LOWER ROLLS OF SAID SETS EMBRACED BYSAID LOWER APRON, SAID LOWER BAR BEING PROVIDED WITH A NOSE PROJECTINGTOWARD THE LOWER ROLL OF THE FIRST SET AND ALSO PROJECTED UPWARDLY WITHA ROUNDED EXTREMITY OVER WHICH SAID APRON EXTENDS, SAID NOSE BEING SOSHAPED AS TO PROJECT THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID APRON CLOSE TO SAIDLOWER FRONT ROLL AND ARCUATELY UPWARDLY ABOUT THE CURVED PATH OF THEUPPER APRON AT ITS FORWARD EXTREMITY AND MEANS TO TENSION SAID LOWERAPRON, SAID UPPER BAR BEING POSITIONED TO DEPRESS THE UPPER APRON INTOTHE UPWARDLY EXTENDING ARC OF THE LOWER APRON.